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Why Are Bakers Complaining About Walmart's 'Vintage Heart Cakes'? TikTok's Viral 'Luxury' Birthday Cake Drama Explained
The small bakers of TikTok are banding together against Walmart's affordable vintage heart cakes, and they're receiving a lot of mixed reactions from users on social media.
The controversy was sparked after videos of Walmart's vintage heart-shaped cakes started going viral, inspiring bakers to push back against them and suggest that people should go to small bakeries rather than give Walmart their business.
So what exactly makes their videos so controversial and why are so many people taking Walmart's side in the debate? Here's what you need to know about the latest drama on CakeTok.
@r7_phantomm I’m in awe with how beautiful this cake turned out! For only $25!! @Walmart 💕🌸🎀 • • • #viral #walmart #heartcake #foryou #fypage #fyp #bakery #buttercream #walmartcustomcakes #customcakes #valentines #vintage #vintagecake #cake #cakedecorating ♬ original sound – Kardashian clips 🎬
What Is The Walmart Heart Cake Drama?
In late January 2025, some TikTokers began posting videos hyping up Walmart's affordable vintage heart cakes. These cakes, which run about $25, are shaped like a heart and were being pushed for Valentine's Day.
In many of the videos about these cakes, TikTokers celebrate the affordability of the heart-shaped dessert, with some commenters writing that they paid around $100 for the same cake at a small bakery.
These growing complaints about the price of heart cakes at small bakeries inspired some small bakers to come forward. These bakers criticized people for complaining about small bakery prices, claiming they have to price their cakes like this because they use better ingredients, pay their bakers better than Walmart and simply don't have the billions of dollars that Walmart does.
One baker in particular, TikToker @birdysbakery, called having a birthday cake a "luxury," which really rubbed a lot of viewers the wrong way.
@rosemarysbabybtch Clouds look like they came from shein
How Are People Reacting To The Walmart Heart Cake Drama?
Many small bakers are posting videos defending the idea that small bakeries use better ingredients and don't have the resources to price their cakes lower, claiming that if you can, you should buy from a small bakery to keep them in business.
In many of these videos, the bakers make it clear that they won't shame anyone for buying from Walmart if it's all they can afford.
On the opposite side of the argument, some people find this claim patronizing and are framing it as bakers "poor shaming" them. Some TikTokers are claiming that small bakeries are ripping people off by overcharging for their cakes and using arguably undesirable ingredients, like too much buttercream or fondant.
Others are claiming that it's unfair to Walmart bakers to suggest they're less skilled than independent bakers or that Walmart is ripping them off, with one TikToker reiterating that not every Walmart baker wants to go independent and "be an entrepreneur."
@ghostgirl177 As if some of them don’t use cake mix, like what 😭 #walmart #heartcake #baking #fyp ♬ original sound – glittersparklegt
@cakesbynams was watching @birdysbakery videos when it hit me #walmartheartcake #walmartcake #cakegate ♬ origineel geluid – r & m <3 ⸆⸉
@calebcooks94 Guys, with me you’re paying $150 for 2 pounds of buttercream. Is that not a steal???? #fyp #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #foryou #forupage #fypシ #foruyou #fypシ゚viral #foru #foruoupage #walmart #valentinesday #valentine #heartcakes ♬ original sound – CalebCooks
@reyahthelastdragon Walmart cake drama #heartcake #bakery #dessert #nia2016 #birthdaycake #bakersoftiktok #publixcake ♬ Vibes do Studio Ghibli – Dandara Music
For the full history of the Walmart Heart Cake Controversy, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.
